Sergey?s studio; Mach 1

[TObject]

For the first time today I tried to setup my own studio lighting. I started with a very basic setup ? white background, a couple of flashes with umbrellas, and a small reflector.



Here are the results of my first playing around:







Now I have a bunch of ideas on how to improve, and about all the different setups I can try. This is going to be interesting

[Joe Dillard]

Good work Sergey, but you've gotta find something a little more macho to take pics of. Maybe some oil filters or spark plugs or something.

[TObject]

You are right. But for practice I need something with eyes, so can watch the catch lights.

[NAILER341]

shocker, eh'?

nice work, Sergey.

[USMC 0369]

What he needs is a REAL monkey...yea...that would be cool.

[TObject]

Originally Posted by NAILER341

shocker, eh'?

Actually, I was scrambling around the house to find things to use as reflectors: kitchen trays, cutting boards, the backs of posters... I am thinking about stopping at Home Depot and getting expanded foam-core boards.

Originally Posted by USMC 0369

What he needs is a REAL monkey...yea...that would be cool.

Hell yes! And when I am done shooting the monkey becomes a dinner... mmm, monkey brains...

[Lawrence]

Nice pics but what's the real story behind your collection of stuffed animals?

[TObject]

Originally Posted by Lawrence

Nice pics but what's the real story behind your collection of stuffed animals?

It?s not a collection, it?s just stuffed animals. Don?t you have stuffed animals at your house? You are weird.

[TObject]

I played a little more with the same basic setup today.

Here is one of the combinations I tried:



And the result of that setting:

[Joe Dillard]

I don't know dung about taking nice pictures, but that is a nice picture.

Hmm, what if you rotated the entire set-up ~180* and took the pics from upstairs looking down?

[TObject]

That would work. And, as a side benefit, I would get a lot of exercise running up and down the stairs all the time to adjust things.

[mrblaine]

Originally Posted by TObject

I played a little more with the same basic setup today.

Here is one of the combinations I tried:



And the result of that setting:

That's looking pretty good Sergey. I like it.

[TObject]

Still using the same basic two-umbrella setup; today trying porters. Here is one:

[mrblaine]

Originally Posted by TObject

Still using the same basic two-umbrella setup; today trying porters. Here is one:

Not a fan of that one Sergey. The contrast is not high enough for it to be a "dramatic" style and you aren't well lit enough to be anything other than in shadow.

Maybe it's the subject?

[TObject]

Yep, I need more lights (already on order). I always thought that those guys who clamed they can light everything they want with just two umbrellas were full of it. But today I spent about five hours with two umbrellas, and the shot I posted, was probably the best of the bunch.

No worries, I am sure I’ll get better. This is my third day playing with studio lights, and my first day trying portraits.

[Matt N]

Sergey I think you've missed the point!

To make fake IDs to sell to all the new arrivals from down south, the photos need to look slightly dodgy, like they were taken in a photo booth. If you use perfect photos, your fake IDs will look fake!